The relationship between serum procalcitonin (PCT) level and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II ) score in septic patients

Objective To investigate the relationships between serum procalcitonin (PCT) level and APACHE Ⅱ score as well the prognosis of septic patients.Methods Ninety patients with sepsis were collected from emergency and critical care department of Third Hospital,Peking University,Beijing.Within 24 hours after admission,the serum PCT,hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP),leucocyte count (WBC) and lactic acid were examined,and APACHE Ⅱ score were calculated.According to APACHE Ⅱscore,the septic patients were divided into three groups of high,median and low scores.Based on the 28 -day outcomes of patients,the patients were divided into survival group and death group.The differences in PCT,APACHE score,WBC and lactic acid between the survival group and the death group were detected.Results The serum levels of PCT were significantly higher ( P ＜ 0.01 ) in patients with high APACHE Ⅱ score ( ＞ 20) than that in patients with median score (10-20) and low score ( ＜ 10 ).There was significant correlation between PCT level and APACHE Ⅱscore ( r =0.58,P ＜0.01 ).Conclusions There is a good correlation between serum PCT level and APACHE Ⅱ score.The serum PCT and APACHE Ⅱ can be used for predicting the outcomes of septic patients. Key words: Procalcitonin; Sepsis; Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ